From the Publisher
A delightful, gentle unfolding of stories that offer hope and joy to those who find themselves in a pivotal moment in life.”—Kirkus “A comforting read filled with serendipity and simple wisdom, this is a celebration of community, connection, and the transformative power of libraries.”—Booklist
“There’s more to Aoyama’s novel than kindness. There is a subtle, provocative thread about misremembering; a pageant of interesting jobs; and a suite of mature, cooperative relationship. [T]he novel is an undeniable page-turner, its mechanism energized by a simple question, posed again and again by the uncanny librarian, Mrs. Komachi.”—Robin Sloane, New York Times Book Review
Library Journal
★ 12/22/2023
Originally published in Japan in 2020, this best-selling novel has been translated into over 20 languages. Set around a local community center near an elementary school, each of the five chapters is narrated in first person and describe how a librarian, Sayuri Komachi, comes to transform the narrator's life. After each reference interview, Komachi presents a list of book recommendations, plus a random felted object that she has made (a frying pan, a cat, a globe, a plane, a crab). The magical part of each story is how these objects perfectly tie in with each patron's outcome and how every booklist includes a title that seems a bit out of sync with the original query but comes to play a big part in helping patrons find what they are looking for. VERDICT Aoyama's story is reminiscent of positively told stories, which could be made into an episode of The Twilight Zone, with the librarian as the main protagonist working her magic in each encounter. The storytelling is engaging, much like Sayaka Murata's Convenience Store Woman, making this book a fast read. Bibliophiles and book groups looking for a feel-good story will certainly find it here.—Shirley Quan
OCTOBER 2023 - AudioFile
This poignant audiobook features five deceptively simple parables about how libraries inspire the pursuit of one's passions. Each of the interconnected stories is narrated by a single narrator who portrays a member of Japanese society whose current existence is unfulfilling and unsuccessful. The international narrators bring a blend of accents that highlight the vast differences between the characters portrayed, including socioeconomic aspects not limited to Japanese culture. These include the plight of 65-year-old retiree Masago, thoughtfully narrated by Shiro Kawai, and 40-year-old former magazine editor Natsumi's dilemmas as a working mother. Each narrator brings a fresh viewpoint and portrayal of Sayuri Komachi, the larger-than-life librarian who appears in every story. She gives each protagonist the perfect book to encourage them to follow their aspirations. M.F. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2023-07-13
A series of interlocking vignettes follow Tokyo residents who find themselves at the local library.
The Hatori Community House is located adjacent to an elementary school. It houses meeting rooms, a kitchen, and a library. Small but well stocked and boasting a full-time reference librarian, it is this room—and the librarian, Sayuri Komachi—around which each of the stories rotates. All of the library’s patrons are floundering, and a few words and a book recommendation from Ms. Komachi, as well as a little “bonus gift,” set them on the path to seeing more clearly what it is that they hold valuable. (Think a fictional Marie Kondo who doesn't recommend paring down a life cluttered with fears but rather helps a person discover their own way forward.) There is Tomoka, 21, who left her small country town for junior college in Tokyo and now works in the womenswear department of a local general store, feeling unfulfilled and adrift. Ryo, 35, works in the accounts department of a furniture manufacturer but has long dreamed of opening an antiques shop while being terrified of the uncertainty of such a venture. Hiroya, 30, unemployed and living with her mother, trained as an illustrator but has too much anxiety to find and keep a permanent job. Natsumi, 40, a former magazine editor, feels sidelined after returning early from maternity leave after having found herself unexpectedly pregnant at 37. And Masao, 65 and newly retired, finds himself adrift after 42 years of focusing solely on his work to the detriment of hobbies, social connections, and his relationships with his wife and child. Each character is wrought with care, as are their blossoming realizations about how their futures can develop despite their worries.
A delightful, gentle unfolding of stories that offer hope and joy to those who find themselves in a pivotal moment in life.
